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Saturday, August 31, 2013

It's a new month which means a new blog hop! This month we got to pick a pin from Pinterest and CASE it. CASE stands for Copy And Share Everything. The pin I chose was from Amy O'Neil. In case you didn't know, I LOVE Gorgeous Grunge, so her card just called to me when I saw it. And it didn't hurt that Amy is so freakin' talented! Seriously, the girl has mad skills!!! Thanks for the Pinspiration, Amy!! I used a different color palette than Amy did, but the layout of the card is basically the same.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Howdy! I'm back with our MDS blog hop today! The theme is something we are working on in MDS, and this project has been something I've been working on for a while. I saw this picture several months ago and I knew I had to make a project with this pattern on it. Isn't it cool?

I started putting together a scrapbook page, but the pattern was just so bold, I was having a hard time finding just the right photo to add to it. So, I changed it to a 6 x 6 card and I like it much better.

I love graphic patterns like this so I can't wait to have this printed off. I also LOVE these colors together! Most of what I used on this card were punches, but I also used the Hip and Handsome and Natural Composition overlays (my fav) and the Fantabulous You stamp for the greeting.

Now it's time to go check out all the other lovely projects by my MDS friends! Remember, we love comments!!!

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Last week at Mydigitalstudio.net the challenge was pocket pages. I was intrigued, but didn't submit an entry. This week, they have extended the challenge and I took that as a sign that I needed to try this fun way to scrapbook. You may wonder, "what is a pocket page?" You will probably know them better as Project Life pages which were created by Becky Higgins (I have been a fan since her days at Creating Keepsakes magazine!!) Basically, she has designed divided scrapbook page protectors with pockets for basic sized photos and then basic sized cards for journaling, embellishing or just as a filler. I think it's pretty brilliant (plus so simple and quick), but I haven't really tried doing any yet. I'm not very good at trying new things right away--I have to check things out first (sometimes for a long while!) Anyway, after last weeks MDS blog hop, I watched Erica's video on how she makes pocket cards with MDS and it really got me thinking. I can set up my own pocket templates and save them on MDS! I used the standard size 4 x 6 photo size and then halved that for my journaling/filler card and then as I moved them around and found the layout I liked, I selected "File" then "Save Page Photo Layout" and named each page (I think I used "Pocket Page 1,2,3, etc.") So after having made several templates, I jumped in and made a page for the Mydigitalstudio.net challenge. I am sooooooooo far behind on my scrapbooking so don't judge, these pics are from 2005!

The thing I like about these pocket pages is that most of it is just drag and drop! I just added a few punches, stamps and embellishments along with my title and journaling and 'voila', all done! I did create my own Mickey paper in the top left corner, just by copying and pasting circle punches and then saving as a .jpg file. Now, I know some of you are saying, "Hey, what about the edges? Are those going to get cut off when I print it?" If you are getting this printed through Stampin' Up! you have to be very careful about the page bleed area that may be trimmed off during the printing process, but because I saved this as a .jpg file, I can take the whole page and size it to whatever I want! I can do 8 x 8, 12 x 12, or a 5 x 5. I can add it to a 12 x 12 page and shrink it down to a size that fits inside the bleed area. My local print shop says they can print within 1/8" of the edge, so I will take my chance on this and see how well it prints--I can always adjust my photo box sizes if needed. Make sure you go to mydigitalstudio.net and "like" my page or you can always submit your own!! Challenge ends tomorrow at noon Mountain time. I think I'll be making a few more of these!!

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Today is my baby boy's 21st birthday! Wow, it sure isn't what I imagined it would be when I had an adult child, but I am enjoying this stage of my life! Sure, you have the normal pulling away as children always do when they grow and become independent, but it is wonderful to change my role from parent to advisor. Erik always jokes that he was my "practice child" and that he is the "first pancake that didn't turn out"! I know that he doesn't really believe that, but as an oldest child, I do understand that thought! I have learned a lot being Erik's mom and I hope that one day I can prove myself on my grandchildren!!! Erik makes me laugh! I think that will be the thing that I will miss the most when he's off on his own in a few months--his laughter! I laugh at his laugh! I don't even need to know what he is laughing at! We also have very deep discussions, along with heated debates! We both LOVE to be right, so that can cause friction at times, but because we love and appreciate each other, we work things out. I know that school will bring out the very best in my little boy and I am excited what the next few years will bring! Happy birthday, Erik! You've made every second of my 23 hours of labor with a 9 lb 13 oz baby worth it!! {wink}

No matter what I do in this life, my children will always be my greatest creation! They are the best!

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Ten days and counting down before my baby starts her senior year of high school! Wow, has it really been that long? It's amazing how you blink and they are all grown up! It's also hard to believe that my oldest will be 21 next week! Really? A full-on adult? I don't remember getting old! Well, as my shock is settling in, I will post my very first MDS blog hop project as an OFFICIAL MDS HOP DESIGN TEAM MEMBER!!! WOOT WOOT!! I was so honored to be asked when I went to convention! I don't feel quite up to par with the other talented ladies on the Design Team, but I hope to learn as much as I can from each one of them! Each one has a beautiful style all their own and they always amaze me with their fantastic projects each month--it'll be hard to keep up with these creative gals, but I will do my best!
Now, on to the projects! This month's theme is school/pocket card project, but since I think I'm the only one without young'uns, I couldn't really get away with some of the cutesy, fun posters that are all over Pinterest for the first day of school and I really struggled with what to do. Then I remembered my daughter's huge binder for her kindergarten class. (She gets to teach kindergarten a few days a week at her school!) It's not a normal size binder, it's a crazy big binder that only comes in a few dull colors (yawn!!!) She has class assigments, projects, worksheets, activites, ideas and tons of other papers. She carries this 4-5" binder around all the time and I thought it would be fun to make a nice cover sheet to spice it up a bit.

I did two different styles, one a little more pretty and one more fun. You can download them for free! I deleted the name so you can add whatever you want in the box. The first one uses mostly Be Yourself components and the second one uses a mix of several stamps from Seriously Aweseome, Game Day, Fantabulous You, Today & You, and Border Banter. You can find all of these sets here. Make sure you check out all of the fun school projects the other hoppers have come up with! A quick congrats to our resident Stampin' Up! Artisan team members, Jeanna Bohanon and Cindy Schuster, they are so deserving! And a welcome to my cyber friend, Cori Kozak, who is the newest crazy-talented design team member with me!

Monday, August 12, 2013

This idea came to me in the middle of the night! Does that ever happen to you? I almost got up to make it when I thought of if, but I was so tired, I just hoped that I still remembered it in the morning! I started to put it together, but then I had a brain cramp--I sooooo hate that! I just needed to walk away and come back later to get some new inspiration!

Sunday, August 11, 2013

...to start thinking of Halloween, right? I figure since the stores are already putting out their Halloween decorations, so can I! This is one of the sets I received at convention called Tags 4 You and you can get it with a bundle that comes with the stamp set at the coordinating punch for only $26.95 for the clear mount stamps, that's a savings of 15% over buying them separately!

I took some White Baker's twine and colored it with the Old Olive marker then I lightly misted it with water so that the color saturated the twine--that is a fun way to get colors to coordinate with your project.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Just a quick card today with my favorite Gorgeous Grunge and Undefined carved stamp. I also added the "XOXO" from the new Oh Goodie set from the Holiday Catalog. I used the Chalk Talk Framelits, but I shortened the tag by sliding the tag down a bit in the Framelit after the first cut and then running it through again. I used clear embossing powder on the Melon Mambo classic ink and sprayed the whole thing with Smooch Spritz. I hope to have a few more projects using my zebra print soon, so check back! This has been a lot of fun, I can't wait for my whole kit to come!

Thursday, August 8, 2013

I LOVE this stamp set! I've already used it in several projects already and I know that it's going to be the "GO TO" set for me! Here's a card I did several weeks ago:

I stamped the "Thank You" and arrow stamp from Hello, Lovely in Midnight Muse and Summer Starfruit and then stamped with my Gorgeous Grunge in Summer Starfruit on the same color card stock for a tone on tone look. The little arrow (in Soft Slate) was cut out using the Paper Snips (don't you just love those little scissors??) and mounted with Stampin' Dimensionals. Some people love Summer Starfruit and some don't--I think it's a beautiful color and I use it a lot! I will hate to see it go next year, so I will be using it as much as I can! I hope you are enjoying the last few weeks of your summer! My baby starts her senior year of high school in a few weeks--I'M NOT READY!! This is going to be crazy! I'm just going to enjoy the ride!

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Have you heard about Paper Pumpkin? She is your creative fairy godmother! She brings you a different paper crafting project every month--everything you need in one box! Cards, mini scrapbooks, banners, journals, gifts and much, much more! You receive everything for only $19.95 a month, including shipping!! But hold everything...until the end of August, you can have your first two months for only $10!! Yep, it's true! You will get your welcome kit and your first month's kit for only $10 each! Everyone who signs up gets the welcome kit first that comes with stamps, cards, embellishments and the acrylic block that will work for all your Paper Pumpkin stamps. Then you will get the kit that comes each month--everyone that signs up for Paper Pumpkin gets the same set for that month (after you receive your welcome kit). That means you can sign up with your friends and get together each month to assemble your Paper Pumpkin projects!!! What a fun night!

All you need to do is go to http://mypaperpumpkin.com and click "subscribe". Make sure you choose me, Julie Davidse, as your demonstrator (only US customers can sign up with me, sorry)! Then sit back and wait for your box of crafty loveliness to arrive!! I would love to see your creations--make sure you send me a photo or a link to your Paper Pumpkin creations! Sign up today and you will live happily ever after! Really!

Friday, August 2, 2013

It's here!! The 2013 Holiday Catalog! You've got to see all of the beautiful creations inside!
It's overflowing with stamps, paper, bundles, kits, gifts and more! Check out this fun bow die for the Big Shot die-cutting machine:

Won't your gifts look darling with those bows on top? And how about this fun album and pocket cards:

All you need to add is the photos and journaling!! But if you like something a bit more creative, you need the new Season of Style This and That planner kit! You can customize it just the way you want!

And that's just a small taste of what we have for you in the Holiday Catalog! If you would like a copy, please e-mail me your address and I will put one in the mail for you, or you can see it online!

I can't wait for you to see all the festive projects and fun products inside! For more information, please feel free to contact me by leaving a comment here or on my website, you can also order from my website anytime. Now is the time to schedule your workshop, so check your calendar and let me know when you would like me to show you and your friends some of the great projects from the catalog in person!